Movable partition or wall



Aug- 1967 B. B. GREENBIE MOVABLE PARTITION OR WALL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1964 INVENTOR. BARRIE B. GREENBIE ATTORNEYS g- 1967 B. B. GREENBIE MOVABLE PARTITION OR WALL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1964 ATTORNEYS E w mu mm 3 E R m v! M 9 /8 p 1 x QM NM\%M 1967 B. B. GREENBIE 3,335,532

MOVABLE PARTITION OR WALL Filed Jan. 8, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.5

INVENTOR.

i BARRIE B. GREENBiE F 38 BY [1/6 I32 40 4 062 ATTORNE Y5 Aug. 15, 1967 MOVABLE PARTITION Filed Jan. 8, 1964 B. B. GREENBIE OR WALL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Figv,

INVENTOR. GREENBIE BY Madam AT TOR NE Y5 BARRVIE B.

United States Patent 3,335,532 MOVABLE PARTITION 0R WALL Barrie B. Greenbie, 12 Remsen St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 Filed Jan. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 336,518 15 Claims. (Cl. 52-122) The present invention relates generally to partitions or walls, and in particular to a partition which is capable of being transported to a prescribed location and detachably secured therein.

There are numerous constructions suggested in the prior art for the provision of movable and self-standing walls or partitions which are intended to be adjusted from one position to another to form various wall combinations and spatial arrangements. However, a survey of commercially available movable partitions indicates that the various prior art devices on the market require expenisve and time consuming permanent connecting devices and/ or skilled labor and tools for relocation. There exists a need for a movable partition and transporting and mounting mechanism therefore which facilitates adjustment in a minimum period of time without the necessity of employing special tools or relatively skilled workman and which, upon being secured in place, will have all the outward appearances of a permanent wall.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wall or partition which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a movable wall or partition and transporting and mounting mechanism therefore which enables the wall to be moved from place to place in relatively short order and be releasably but for all practical intents and purposes permanently secured in place without the need of special tools or the utilization of relatively skilled workman.

The presently available demountable wall arrangements usually must be fabricated in relatively small sections due to the weight of the sections and the difiiculty of transporting the sections from location to location and aligning them in end to end upstanding relation between the floor and ceiling. Known systems usually require relatively complicated and time consuming connections for achieving alignment and securement between adjacent panels. Also, such known systems usually require the installation of relatively permanent overhead tracks which may be expensive, complicated and require rigid securement to the ceiling as to be stable under load. It will be appreciated that the use of such overhead tracks limit the locations of the movable walls or partitions to the installed positions of the track and thereby curtail the flexibility of the system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved transporting and mounting mechanisms for a movable wall or partition which enables the transporting of a relatively large and heavy movable wall from location to location and the releasable securement in any such adjusted position without the necessity of the pre-installation of an oevrhead track. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the invention to provide a transporting mechanism which affords a stable and structurally ade quate support for moving a heavy wall or partition from location to location and which may be contained within the outline of the wall in any adjusted position such that the same is hidden from view until such time as it may be necessary to once again transport the wall and reinstall the same at a different location.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a transportable wall which comprises an upstanding partition having substantially parallel lower and upper ends adapted to be mounted between a fioor and 3,335,532 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 a ceiling. At least two spaced transporting and mounting mechanism depend from the lower end of the partition and are arranged to enable the partition to be transported about and to be releasably secured in an adjusted position. Each of said mechanisms includes a dolly having casters and mounting means on the dolly for securing said partition in an adjusted position which mounting means is operable in response to rotation of the dolly. The dolly is movable between a transporting position substantially at right angles to the partition wherein the casters are positioned below the mounting means and adapted to engage the floor to maintain the mounting means out of contact therewith and enable the wall to be transported from location to location and a locking position wherein the dolly is within the outline of the partition, with the casters thereof being spaced above the mounting means such that the mounting means is in contact with the floor for releasably securing the partition in the adjusted position.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompany. ing drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a room having a wall thereof made up of two partitions embodying features of the present invention, the partition at the left being shown in its final installed position and the partition at the right being shown in its installed position, but with the baseboard thereof lifted to expose the two combined transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from such partition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective viewshowing the several components of typical transporting and mounting mechanism embodying feature of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, with parts broken away and sectioned, of a partition as partially installed between the floor and ceiling, with the transporting and mounting mechanism at the left of the partition being shown in its locking position and the transporting and mounting mechanism at the right being shown in its transporting position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the transporting and mounting mechanisms;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the transporting and mounting mechanism in its locking position when the baseboards or panels swung to their closing position in a typical installation;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a typical mounting strip employed at the top of the partition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view taken substantially along the lines 77 of FIG. 6, with parts shown in section;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified transporting and mounting mechanism embodying further features of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic and diagrammatic view showing a typical installation of a pair of the modified transporting and mounting mechanisms shown in FIG. 8 on the bottom of a partition or wall, with the full lines showing the locking position of the transporting and mounting mechanisms and the dotted lines showing the transporting position thereof;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the modified transporting and mounting mechanisms shown in FIG. 8 prior to installation on a Wall or panel;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a pair of the modified transporting and mounting mechanisms installed on the bottom of a partition, with the transporting mounting mechanisms being in end to end alignment and in their locking positions;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line l212 in FIG. 11 and showing the transporting and mounting mechanisms in their locking position, with typical base panels installed to hide the mechanisms from view;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of a still further modified transporting and mounting mechanism embodying features of the present invention shown installed on the bottom of a partition and illustrated in the locking position; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 inclusive a first embodiment of transportable partition or wall demonstrating features of the present invention, with the partition being generally designated by the reference numeral 20. A typical wall installation in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 wherein two typical partitions, 20, 20 are shown mounted in side by side or aligned relation to provide a transverse wall or divider for a room having a floor F and a ceiling C. The partition 20 at the left is shown with the baseboards 22 thereof swung to the closed position hiding the transporting and mounting mechanisms 24, 24 from view, while the partition 20' at the right is shown with the baseboard 22' thereof in an open position exposing the two identical transporting and mounting mechanisms 24, 24. Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2 to 7 inclusive for a description of a typical transportable partition or wall 20 embodying features of the present invention, it being understood that the partitions 20, 20' are identical for all practical intents and purposes as are the transporting and mounting mechanisms 24.

As seen best in FIG. 2, each of the transporting and mounting mechanisms 24 includes a thrust member or plate 26 which is secured to the lower end 20a of the partition 20 by appropriate screws or bolts. Projecting upwardly from the thrust member or plate 26 is a cylindrical mounting sleeve 28 which is secured between the opposite face or walls 281), 20c of the partition 20 (see FIG. by the provision of a transversely extending nut and bolt assembly 30 or by any other suitable means. As seen in FIG. 5, the space or void between the walls 20b, 200 is filled with the soundproof and insulating material, such a fiber glass or the like, but is pushed away so as not to fill the interior of the upstanding mounting sleeve 28 which projects upwardly into the partition 20.

Disposed below the thrust plate 26 and the lower end 20a of the partition 20 is a jack assembly which includes a footing 32 which is vertically adjustable relative to the partition 20, a jack screw 34 projecting upwardly therefrom through the thrust member 26 and into the mounting sleeve 28 and a dolly 36 which is rotatably mounted on the jack screw 34 intermediate the footing 32 and the thrust plate 26. Specifically, and as seen best in FIGS. 2 through 5 inclusive, the footing 32 includes an inverted U-shaped channel or body 38 having mounted therein a block 40 of any appropriate material (i.e. an elastomer or plastic) such that the lower face 40a will afford a firm grip with the underlying floor F. The face 40a is preferably knurled to enhance its frictional gripping properties. A jack screw 34 is secured centrally of the channel or body 38 and project upwardly therefrom and is received within a centrally disposed depending threaded jack nut 42 secured to the body 44 of the dolly 36. The dolly body 44 is preferably in the form of an inverted U-shaped channel and has appropriate roller or casters 46, 48 mounted at the opposite ends thereof. The depending casters 46, 48 are arranged to straddle the footing 32, as seen best in FIGS. 3 and 4. The casters 46, 48 are rotatable about horizontal shafts 46a, 48a journaled on caster brackets 46b, 48b which in turn swivel about vertical axes defined by the respective caster-mounting shafts 50, 52.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the combined transporting and mounting mcehanism 24 at the right is disposed with the dolly 36 extending at right angles to the partition 2%) and to the footing 32, with the casters 46, 48 spaced at opposite sides of the footing 32 and in contact with the fioor F. The dolly 36 is rotated into this transporting position to afford a stable, wheeled undercarriage or base for transporting the partition. When the partition 20 is to be moved, the transporting and mounting mechanism at the left in FIG. 3 is also disposed in the same transporting position. In the illustrative showing of FIG. 3, the transporting and mounting mechanism 24 at the left is shown in the locking position wherein the mechanism is disposed within the outline of the partition 20, with the dolly body 44 having its upper face in bearing contact with the thrust plate or member 26 and with the casters 46, 48 spaced above the floor F and in straddling relation to the footing 32. In turn, the footing 32 has its under-surface 40a in bearing contact with the underlying floor F.

At its upper end 20e, the partition 20 is provided with a mounting strip (see FIGS. 5 to 7 inclusive), generally designated by the reference numeral 54, which includes a body 56 having a plurality of upwardly directed spikes or nails 58. The illustrative mounting strip is of the type particularly suited for use with a ceiling composed of penetrable acoustic tiles which are capable of receiving the spikes or nails 58, as seen in FIG. 5, to afford an interconnection between the partition 20 and the ceiling C. When disengaged from the ceiling, the spikes 58 will virtually leave no telltale marks due to the roughened and porous surface of the usual ceiling tiles. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that diverse types of mounting strips to interconnect with various other ceiling materials may be employed at the upper end of the partition 20 to be wedged against the ceiling C in accordance with the present invention.

In actual use, both of the transporting and mounting mechanisms 24 are disposed in the transporting position as shown to the right in FIG. 3 and the partition 20 is wheeled to the location for installation. Thereupon, the transporting and mounting mechanisms 24, for example the one shown at the left in FIG. 3 are brought to the locking postion by turning the dolly 36 about the jack screw 34 in a direction such that an upwardly directed thrust is imparted via the thrust member 26 to the partition 20. This develops a spreading force which urges the footing 32 downwardly against the floor F and the mounting strip 56 upwardly and into engagement with the ceiling C. Usually, the floor to ceiling spacing in a typical room is relatively standard and substantially uniform throughout such that upon one or more turns of the dolly sufiicient frictional forces can be developed to wedge the partition 20 in place, with the dolly 36 ultimately being disposed in the locking position alignment with and within the outline of the partition. With both of the mounting and transporting mechanisms 24 in the locking position, the partition 20 is effectively edged between the fioor F and the ceiling C. Thereupon, the baseboards 22, which are illustrated as being pivoted to the lower end of the partition 20 at pivots 22a, may be swung to the closing position to conceal the respective mounting and transporting mechanisms 24, as seen best in FIG. 5. Although the baseboards 22 are illustrated as being of a fixed height and pivoted at a fixed location on the partition, it will be appreciated that some provision may be required for the extension or relocation of the baseboards 22 depending upon the degree of extension of the transporting and mounting mechanisms 24 necessary for locking the partition in place. Such expedients are well known to those skilled in this field.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 8 to 12 inclusive, there is shown a further embodiment of the present invention which is particularly suitable wherein there is very little variation in the floor to ceiling height in the areas in which the partition is to be employed. In this embodiment of the invention, the combined transporting and mounting mechanism, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 124, includes a thrust member or plate 126 (see FIGS. 11 and 12) which is appropriately secured to the adjacent lower end 120a of the partition or wall 120. As seen best in FIGS. 11 and 12 a mounting sleeve 128 extends upwardly from the thrust member 126 and is received within the partition 120 between the opposite walls 120b, 1200 thereof and is appropriately secured therein by any convenient means. A jack assembly, the details of which are seen best in FIG. 8, is provided which includes a footing 132 which is vertically adjustable relative to the partition 120 and includes an inverted U-shaped body 138 which receives a deformable footing block 140. The lower surface 140a of the footing block 140 may be appropriately configurated to afford the necessary frictional contact with the underlying floor F, with the footing block 141) being fabricated of an elastomeric material such as a relatively hard rubber or yieldable plastic. Projecting upwardly from the footing 132 centrally thereof is a jack member 134 which extends upwardly through the body 114 of the rotatable dolly 136, with the jack member 134 extending loosely through the dolly body 144 and being received within the mounting sleeve 128, as seen best in FIG. 11. Appropriate provision is made to preclude relative rotation between the footing 124 and the partition 120 which may take the form of a key 134a secured to the jack member 134 and received within a corresponding longitudinally extending keyway 128a formed in the mounting sleeve 128. The inter-engaging key 134a and keyway 128a permits the vertical adjustment of the footing 124 and precludes the same from rotating out of its position extending in alignment beneath the partition 120.

As in the previous embodiment the dolly body 144, which is of inverted U-shaped configuration, carries appropriate casters or wheels 146, 148 adjacent the opposite ends thereof which are respectively journaled on caster axles 150, 152 for rotation about corresponding vertical axes, with each of the wheels 146, 148 being rotatable about its wheel axle 146a, 148a.

Cooperating means are carried respectively on the footing 132 and on the dolly 136 and are arranged to impart a spreading force between the footing 132 and the partition 120 in response to rotation of the dolly 136 from a transporting position extending at right angles to the partition 120 into a locking position bearing against the thrust member 126 and substantially aligned with the footing 132. Specifically, and as seen best in FIGS. to 12 inclusive, the footing 124 carries a cam 160 which surrounds the adjacent lower end of the jack member or guide pin 134 and is formed with an upwardly directed cam track 160a. In turn, the dolly 136 is provided with a depending cam 162 having a downwardly directed cam track 162a. The cam tracks 160a, 162a are on equal radii and confront each other and are configurated to impart a spreading force between the footing 132 and the dolly 136 and a corresponding displacement which is sufficient to wedge or lock the partition 120 in place in response to a 90 turn of the dolly 136 relative to the footing 132. Thus in response to turning of the dolly 136 from the transporting position extending at right angles to the partition 120 into the locking position aligned therewith, the cooperating cams 160, 162 achieve the locking of the partition 120 in place, with the casters or wheels 146, 148 moving from an opertaive position below the level of the under face 140a of the footing block 140 as shown in FIG. 10 to an inoperative position thereabove as shown in FIG. 11. The cams 160, 162 are provided with stops to limit relative rotation therebetween to one quarter of a turn.

Since in this embodiment the degree of relative movement between the partition and footing 132 is determined by the configuration of the respective cams 160, 162, as indicated by the notation up and down travel in FIG. 12, it will be appreciated that some provision may be required at certain times to afford some degree of adjustment in the event that the corresponding displacement is insufiicient to wedge or lock the partition 120 in its adjusted position. To this end, it may be desirable to provide a limited degree of adjustment between the body 138 of the footing 132 and the unitary cam and jack member or guide pin 134. This is accomplished, as illustrated at the right in FIG. 11, by securing an upwardly directed adjustment screw 138a to the body 138 of the footing 132 which screw 138a is threaded into a corresponding downwardly opening tapped hole 134!) formed in the underside of the jack member or guide pin 134. Thus, if the clamping force developed by the movement of the cams 160, 162 from the disengaged position illustrated in FIG. 10 to the engaged position illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 is insufiicient to afford the necessary locking of the partition 120 in place, there may be a preliminary adjustment of the body 138 of the footing relative to the jack member 134 and the cam 160 to assure proper locking. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various other arrangements may be made for permitting a limited degree of adjustment of the footing 132 relative to the cam 160.

Since the locking of the respective transporting and mounting mechanisms 124 in this embodiment is achived by a 90 turning of the two mechanisms, this installation may be made by simultaneous adjusting of the mechanisms 124. As seen in the schematic and diagrammatic showing of FIG. 9, the left and right transporting and mounting mechanisms may be moved from the transporting position in spaced parallel relation to each other and at right angels to the partition (as illustrated by the corresponding dotted line showing) into the locking position in end to end alignment with each other and within the transverse profile of the partition by the provision of an appropriate tie-rod arrangement. A typical tie-rod arrangement may include a single rod 164 having downwardly turned ends 164a, 16% (see FIG. 11) which are received into corresponding apertured tie rod brackets, such as those illustrated at the four corners of the dolly body 144 in FIG. 8 and designated by the reference numeral 166. After the transporting mechanisms 124 are moved into end to end alignment to lock the partition in place, the one or more tie-rods 164 may be removed. The tie-rod brackets 166 then provide a convenient means for the mounting of the base boards or plates 122 which have inwardly directed mounting hooks 122a adapted to be received within the apertured tie-rod brackets after removal of the tie-rods, as seen best in FIG. 12.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is illustrated a still further embodiment of the present invention which is substantially identical in all respects to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 12 inclusive but includes positive provision for the locking of the partition 320 between the floor F and the ceiling C. In this illustrative embodiment, the footing block 340 is provided with a depending locking plug 340a which may be received within a corresponding recess R in the floor F. The recess may be provided by a fitting mounted directly in the floor or by providing a mounting strip embedded in the floor, with appropriate fittings at spaced locations therealong. Further, in this embodiment the upper end of the partition 320 is provided with an upwardly directed locking plug 358 which is received Within an appropriate recess R in the ceiling which may be defined by a separate fitting or by the provision of a mounting strip which is recessed into the ceiling C as is generally understood by those skilled in the art.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a partition which may be transported from location to location, with the transporting mechanisms being arranged to be hidden within the outline of the partition and comprising a dolly including a dolly body having depending casters and means mounting the dolly body on the partition for adjustment between a transporting position extended at an angle to the partition and a storage position aligned with the partition. Advantageously, the motion of the dolly in orienting the same for transporting and storage is effective to achieve locking of the partition in an adjusted position, although it is also within the contemplation that separate locking means may be provided which do not necessarily operate in response to the turning of the dolly from the transporting position to the locking position. When the transporting mechanism is disposed in the locking or storage position, it is disposed within the outline of the partition, can be readily hidden from view, yet is available and readily accessible if it becomes necessary to once again relocate the partition. It is possible to make the installation between the floor and ceiling without in any way altering either the floor or ceiling. If the installation is such and the structural requirements necessitate, mounting strips and/or fitments may be provided respectively in the floor and ceiling to rigidity the structure.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an upstanding partition having lower and upper ends and adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling of two spaced combined transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and adjustable to enable said partition to be transported to a prescribed location and operable for detachably securing said partition between said floor and ceiling in said prescribed location, each of said mechanisms comprising a jack assembly mounted on said partition and including a footing mounted for vertical adjustment relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom, a dolly including a dolly body and depending casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith, and cooperating cam means on said dolly body on said jack member, said dolly being adjnstable between a transporting position extending at an angle to said partition and wherein said Cam means is effective to position said casters below the level of said footing and in contact with said floor and a locking position aligned with said footing and wherein said cam means is effective to position said casters above the level of said footing and wherein said footing and upper end of said partition are respectively wedged between said floor and ceiling.

2. The combination with an upstanding partition having lower and upper ends and adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling of two spaced combined transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and adjustable to enable said partition to be transported to a prescribed location and operable for detachably securing said partition between said floor and ceiling in said prescribed location, each of said mechanisms comprising a jack assembly mounted on said partition and including a footing mounted for ver tical adjustment relative to said partition and a jack screw projecting upwardly therefrom, a dolly including a dolly body and depending casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith, and a threaded collar mounting said dolly body on said jack screw in threaded engagement therewith and adjustable between a transporting position extending at an angle to said partition and wherein said casters are positioned below the level of said footing and adapted to contact said floor and a locking position aligned with said footing and wherein said casters are positioned above the level of said footing and said footing and upper end of said partition are respectively wedged between said floor and ceiling.

3. A transportable wall comprising an upstanding par tition having substantially parallel lower and upper ends adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling, at least one transporting and mounting mechanism depending from said lower end of said partition and arranged to enable said partition to be transported about and to releasably secure said partition in an adjusted position, said mechanism including a jack assembly mounted on said partition and including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom, a wheeled dolly straddling said footing when aligned therewith and rotatable about said jack member, and interengaging means on said dolly and said jack member for imparting a spreading force to said partition and said footing in response to rotation of said dolly.

4. A transportable wall comprising an upstanding partition having substantially parallel lower and upper ends adapted to be mounted between a fioor and ceiling, at least two spaced transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and arranged to enable said partition to be transported about and to releasably secure said partition in an adjusted position, each of said mechanisms including a jack assembly mounted on said partition and including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom, a dolly having casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith and rotatable about said jack member, and interengaging means on said dolly and said jack member for imparting a spreading force to said partition and said footing in response to rotation of said dolly, said dolly being movable between a transport position substantially at right angles to said partition wherein said casters are positioned below the level of said footing and adapted to engage said floor to maintain said footing out of contact therewith and a locking position wherein said dolly is within the outline of said partition and straddling said footing with said casters above the level of said footing such that said footing is adapted to contact said fioor.

5. A transportable wall according to claim 4 wherein said interengaging means includes a lead thread formed on said jack member and a complementary and coacting thread nut mounted centrally of said dolly and in threaded engagement with said lead thread.

6. A transportable wall according to claim 4 wherein said interengaging means includes a first cam on said jack member having a first upwardly directed cam track and a second cam on said doll having a second downwardly directed cam track, said first and said cam tracks being engaged and of developments to impact said spreading force in response to ninety degrees of relative rotation therebetween.

7. The combination with an upstanding partition having lower and upper ends and adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling of two spaced combined trans porting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and adjustable to enable said partition to be transported to a prescribed location and operable for detachably securing said partition between said floor and ceiling in said prescribed location, each of said mechanisms comprising a mounting member on said lower end of said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom and into said mounting member, a dolly including a dolly body and depending casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith, and interengaged means on said dolly body and said jack member and operable in response to rotation of said dolly between a transporting position extending at an angle to said partition and a locking position aligned with said footing for imparting a spreading force to said footing and partition such that said footing and upper end of said partition are respectively wedged between said fioor and ceiling, said casters being below the lower face of said footing in said transporting position and above said lower face of said footing in said locking position.

8. The combination with an upstanding partition having lower and upper ends and adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling of two spaced combined transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and adjustable to enable said partition to be transported to a prescribed location and operable for detachably securing said partition between said floor and ceiling in said prescribed location, each of said mechanisms comprising a mounting member on said lower end of said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack screw projecting upwardly therefrom and into said mounting member, a dolly including a dolly body and depending casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith, and interengaged threaded means on said dolly body and said jack screw and operable in response to rotation of said dolly between a transporting position extending at an angle to said partition and a locking position aligned with said footing for imparting a spreading force to said footing and partition such that said footing and upper end of said partition are respectively wedged between said floor and ceiling, said casters being below the lower face of said footing in said transporting position and above said lower face of said footing in said locking position.

9. The combination with an upstanding partition having lower and upper ends and adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling of two spaced combined transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and adjustable to enable said partition to be transported to a prescribed location and operable for detachably securing said partition between said floor and ceiling in said prescribed location, each of said mechanisms comprising a mounting member on said lower end of said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom and into said mounting member, a dolly including a dolly body and depending casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith, and cam means interengaged endwise on said dolly body and said jack member and operable in response to rotation of said dolly between a transporting position extending at an angle to said partition and a locking position aligned with said footing for imparting a spreading force to said footing and partition such that said footing and upper end of said partition are respectively wedged between said floor and ceiling, said casters being below the lower face of said footing in said transporting position and above said lower face of said footing in said locking position.

10. The combination with an upstanding partition having lower and upper ends and adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling of two spaced combined transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and adjustable to enable said partition to be transported to a prescribed location and operable for detachably securing said partition between said floor and ceiling in said prescribed location, each of said mechanisms comprising a thrust member mounted on said lower end of said partition, a mounting sleeve secured to said thrust member and extending upwardly into said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack screw projecting upwardly therefrom, through said thrust member and into said mounting sleeve, a dolly including a dolly body and depending casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith, and a threaded jack nut secured centrally of said dolly and mounting said dolly body on said jack screw in threaded engagement therewith, said dolly being rotatable between a transporting position extending at an angle to said partition and a locking position bearing against said thrust member and aligned with said footing and wherein said footing and upper end of said partition are respectively wedged between said floor and ceiling.

11. The combination with an upstanding partition having lower and upper ends and adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling of two spaced combined transporting and mounting mechanisms depending from said lower end of said partition and adjustable to enable said partition to be transported to a prescribed location and operable for detachably securing said partition between said floor and ceiling in said prescribed location, each of said mechanisms comprising a thrust member mounted on said lower end of said partition, a mounting sleeve secured to said thrust member and extending upwardly into said partition, a jack assembly including a foot vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom, through said thrust member and into said mounting sleeve, a dolly including a dolly body and depending casters straddling said footing When aligned therewith, and cooperating cam means on said dolly body and said jack member, said cooperating cam means being configurated to impart a spreading force to said footing and said partition in response to rotation of said dolly from a transporting position extending at an angle to said partition and a locking position bearing against said thrust member and substantially aligned with said footing.

12. A transportable wall comprising an upstanding partition having substantially parallel lower and upper ends adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling, at least twospaced transporting and mounting assemblies depending from said lower end of said partition and arranged to enable said partition to be transported about and to releasably secure said partition in an adjusted position, each of said assemblies including a thrust member mounted on said lower end of said partition, a mounting sleeve secured to said thrust member and projecting upwardly into said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom through said thrust member and into said mounting sleeve, means for retaining said footing and jack member against rotation relative to said mounting sleeve, a dolly having casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith and rotatable about said jack member and interengaging means on said dolly and said jack member for imparting a spreading force to said partition and said footing in response to rotation of said dolly, said dolly being movable between a transport position substantially at right angles to said partition wherein said casters are positioned below the level of said footing and adapted to engage said floor to maintain said footing out of contact therewith and a locking position wherein said dolly is within the outlined of said partition and straddling said footing with said casters above the level ofsaid footing such that said footing is adapted to contact said floor.

13. A transportatable wall comprising an upstanding partition having substantially parallel lower and upper ends adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling, at least two spaced transporting and mounting assemblies depending from said lower end of said partition and arranged to enable said partition to be transported about and to releasably secure said partition in an adjusted position, each of said assemblies including a thrust member mounted on said lower end of said partition, a mounting sleeve secured to said thrust member and projecting up- Wardly into said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom through said thrust member and into said mounting sleeve, means for retaining said footing and jack member against rotation relative to said mounting sleeve, a dolly having casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith and rotatable about said jack member and interengaging means including coacting cams on said dolly and said jack member respectively for imparting a spreading force to said partition and said footing in response to rotation of said dolly, said dolly being movable between a transport position substantially at an angle to said partition wherein said casters are positioned below the level of said footing and adapted to engage said floor to maintain said footing out of contact therewith and a locking position wherein said dolly is within the outline of said partition and straddling said footing with said casters above the level of said footing such that said footing is adapted, to contact said floor.

14. A transportable wall comprising an upstanding partition having substantially parallel lower and upper ends adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling, at least two spaced transporting and mounting assemblies depending from said lower end of said partition and arranged to enable said partition to be transported about and to releasably secure said partition in an adjusted position, each of said assemblies including a thrust member mounted on said lower end of said partition, a mounting sleeve secured to said thrust member and projecting upwardly into said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom through said thrust member and into said mounting sleeve, means for retaining said footing and jack member against rotation relative to said mounting sleeve, a dolly having casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith and rotatable about said jack member and interengaging means including coacting threads on said dollyand said jack member respectively for imparting a spreading force to said partition and said footing in response to rotation of said dolly, said dolly being movable between a transport position substantially at an angle to said partition wherein said casters are positioned below the level of said footing and adapted to engage said floor to maintain said footing out of contact therewith and a locking position wherein said dolly is substantially within the outline of said partition and straddling said footing with said casters above the level of said footing such that said footing is adapted to contact said floor.

15. A transportable wall comprising an upstanding partition having substantially parallel lower and upper ends adapted to be mounted between a floor and ceiling, at least two spaced transporting and mounting assemblies depending from said lower end of said partition and arranged to enable said partition to be transported about and to releasably secure said partition in an adjusted position, each of said assemblies including a thrust member mounted on said lower end of said partition, a mounting sleeve secured to said thrust member and projecting upwardly into said partition, a jack assembly including a footing vertically adjustable relative to said partition and a jack member projecting upwardly therefrom through said thrust member and into said mounting sleeve, means for retaining said footing and jack member against rotation relative to said mounting sleeve, a dolly having casters straddling said footing when aligned therewith and rotatable about said jack member and interengaging means on said dolly and said jack member for imparting a spreading force to said partition and said footing in response to rotation of said dolly, said dolly being movable between a transport position substantially at right angles to said partition wherein said casters are positioned below the level of said footing and adapted to engage said floor to maintain said footing out of contact therewith and a locking position wherein said dolly is within the outline of said partition and straddling said footing with said casters above the level of said footing such that said footing is adapted to contact said floor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 293,595 2/1884 Ribot 52122 319,576 3/1885 Griesser 52122 1,798,392 3/1931 Adams 52-122 2,349,251 5/1944 Domoj 280--79.l 2,742,675 3/ 1956 Robertson 52l22 2,886,147 5/1959 Chasteney 52-143 2,962,132 11/1960 Reinhardt 52-422 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

R. A. STENZEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH AN UPSTANDING PARTITION HAVING LOWER AND UPPER ENDS AND ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED BETWEEN A FLOOR AND CEILING OF TWO SPACED COMBINED TRANSPORTING AND MOUNTING MECHANISMS DEPENDING FROM SAID LOWER END OF SAID PARTITION AND ADJUSTABLE TO ENABLE SAID PARTITION TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A PRESCRIBED LOCATION AND OPERABLE FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID PARTITION BETWEEN SAID FLOOR AND CEILING IN SAID PRESCRIBED LOCATION, EACH OF SAID MECHANISMS COMPRISING A JACK ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID PARTITION AND INCLUDING A FOOTING MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT RELATIVE TO SAID PARTITION AND A JACK MEMBER PROJECTING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A DOLLY INCLUDING A DOLLY BODY AND DEPENDING CASTERS STRADDLING SAID FOOTING WHEN ALIGNED THEREWITH, AND COOPERATING CAM MEANS ON SAID DOLLY BODY ON SAID JACK MEMBER, SAID DOLLY BEING ADJUSTABLE BETWEEN A TRANSPORTING POSITION EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE TO SAID PARTITION AND WHEREIN SAID CAM MEANS IS EFFECTIVE TO POSITION SAID CASTERS BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID TION ALIGNED WITH SAID FOOTING AND WHEREIN SAID CAM MEANS IS EFFECTIVE TO POSITION SAID CASTERS ABOVE THE LEVEL OF SAID FOOTING AND WHEREIN SAID FOOTING AND UPPER END OF SAID PARTITION ARE RESPECTIVELY WEDGED BETWEEN SAID FLOOR AND CEILING. 